Welcome to the Putney Central School Forest. Its control and oversight is the responsibility of the PCS Forest Committee. They have authorized the placement of various Caches within this site, with more planned for the near future.
This 176 Acre Forest area, is the largest publicly owned property in the Town of Putney. In 1957 when the present school was constructed a farsighted school board saw the virtue of purchasing not only the 12 acre building site, but also the adjacent 164 acre forest parcel. Which includes the Sacketts Brook flood plain, behind the school and the wooded hillside beyond the brook all the way to the Bare Hill Ridge. Several generations of Putney residents have used and enjoyed this forest, which contains a diverse array of woodland and wetland communities. Through conservation, the Committee’s aim is to develop its potential as an educational resource, an extension of the classroom, and to encourage respectful recreational use by the school, the community, and future generations.
All trails are open to hiking, snowshoeing, and skiing, seven trails (Trail C, Trail D, After School Trail, Bare Hill Trail, Deadwood Trail, Loop Trail, and School Trail) are open to bicycles and foot traffic. Four trails (Beaver Dam Trail, Frog Highway, Overlook Trail, and Princess Pine Trail) are intended for foot traffic only. The use of motorbikes, ATVs, and snowmobiles is restricted to the Main Trail. Please refer to the map for trail locations and access. PLEASE ONLY ACCESS THE PCS FOREST VIA THE PORTAL BRIDGE, As other points of access may cross private property, and are not permitted. The Forest belongs to all of us. Let’s keep it clean and safe. Please don’t liter (CITO), Respect designated trail uses. Keep your dog under control. Leave the forest as you found it. FIRES ARE PROHIBITED EXCEPT BY WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUTNEY CENTRAL SCHOOL FOREST COMMITTEE.
Access via the bridge over Sacketts Brook, built in November 2001, was made possible through a grant from the Thompson Trust along with the contributions from three local schools, nine local business, and fifty-two Putney Residents, past and present.
The most direct route to this Cache from Portal Bridge is to take a left off bridge and an immediate right onto Princess Pine Trail <yellow blaze> follow Princess Pine to Main Trail <white blaze> then right on Main Trail to the Cache Which is placed to identify the entrance to the Bare Hill Loop, a somewhat steep up then steep down that starts and ends at this location w/ beautiful views and woodland terrain along the way HAPPY CACHING..!
Map of area at http://www.putneyvt.org/files/maps/consland/PCS%20Trails_May09.pdf